The federal government has announced that it will renew funding for Futurpreneur Canada, a not-for-profit organization that provides mentoring and start-up financing for young entrepreneurs. Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the announcement on Thursday in Brampton, Ontario.

Since its inception, Futurpreneur has helped more than 7,500 young entrepreneurs launch over 6,200 businesses and create 29,800 jobs. The organization has supported successful manufacturing and technology companies like Intellijoint Surgical in Waterloo, Idénergie in Montreal, and3Twenty Solutions Inc. in Saskatoon.

“The future of Canadian manufacturing will depend on young people with vision, innovative solutions for customers and the entrepreneurial drive to build and grow a business,” said CME’s President & CEO Jayson Myers. “Futurpreneur is all about giving new businesses a head start, creating jobs today and building the economy of tomorrow.”